Bhubaneswar: Impending cyclone Arnab is likely to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm and reach the west-central Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast by the morning of Oct 28. It is expected to hi the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by Oct 28 forenoon, packing sustained winds of 115-125 kmph and gusts up to 140 kmph, an IMD forecast said.The depression is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of Oct 26 and further strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay by the morning of Oct 27.The state govt on Saturday activated its disaster-response apparatus, cancelling leave for employees of key departments and placing agencies on high alert. President Droupadi Murmu postponed her scheduled Odisha visit on Oct 28 and 29, official sources said.
Fire service personnel examining their equipments at Odisha Fire & Disaster Responce Academy (OFDRA) at Baramunda ahead of impending Cyclone Arnab , in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
Schools, colleges and anganwadi centres will remain shut on Oct 28 and 29 in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri districts, which are expected to bear the brunt of the storm. Collectors in other districts have been authorised to take a call on educational institutions depending on the evolving situation.After reviewing preparedness at Lok Seva Bhawan, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the state govt was fully prepared to tackle the cyclone. “Departments have been assigned specific responsibilities and our primary objective remains zero casualties,” he said.According to IMD, the system is expected to intensify into a deep depression on Oct 25 and a cyclonic storm by Oct 26 over the west-central Bay of Bengal. It is likely to move west-northwestwards and approach the Andhra Pradesh coast on the morning of Oct 28.The weather office has forecast isolated extremely heavy rainfall over coastal Andhra Pradesh on Oct 27 and 28, and over Odisha and Telangana on Oct 28. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely over Odisha on Oct 27 and 29.Around 60 ODRAF teams, 17 NDRF teams and 225 fire service units have been kept on standby. Govt has readied cyclone and flood shelters and directed officials to shift vulnerable people, including patients and pregnant women, to safe locations.Fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea, while health authorities have been asked to stock medicines, medical kits and anti-snake venom in vulnerable areas. Engineering departments have been placed on alert for immediate restoration of roads, power supply and other infrastructure.Deputy chief minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said leave of employees in the energy and agriculture departments has been cancelled. He said power distributor Tata Power has been directed to remain prepared for possible damage to poles and transformers, particularly in south Odisha, and restore supply swiftly in the event of disruptions.Collector (Ganjam) Keerthi Vasan V too has directed that leave of govt employees be cancelled and asked them to be present at their respective workplaces till Oct 29. He has also directed that all cyclone shelter centres and temporary shelter centres be prepared.(With inputs from Hrusikesh Mohanty)
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